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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The skill of the month was crochet and for me Pren's tutorial (available on the SYS2015 page) was just the beginning!

So this is what I made and what I learned:

-- 1. one fun coaster (with acrylic yarn)

This helped me getting back with the practice of crochet with simple stitches. It also taught me a new technique, since I never tried surface crochet before!

-- 2. slippers (with acrylic yarn)

This is my first wearable project! They are the most comfortable slippers I've ever had in my entire life!! They fit me like a glove (well, like socks ;) ), they are warm but not too much, cozy but not to tight... basically just perfect! And a great way to test color combinations!!

-- 3. crochet hooks cozy (with acrylic yarn)

This little project was done just to try crochet both from right to left and from left to right. The square is worked in rounds, but I added some extra rows just to make it a rectangle and to try this new technique. It is not that hard, just a little slower ;)

-- 4. cat pouch (with cotton crochet thread, size 3)

(not done yet, missing final round, closing, zipper)

I wanted to try something different but that didn't require any fancy stitch. Googling around I came across this fun kitty bag (by Carol Ventura) and I discovered a new technique called tapestry crochet.

The objects made with this technique have very intricate designs but they are super simple!! It's just all single crochet, worked with 2 strands at the time (one carried inside the stitches, and then you switch between the two colors when needed). There are several video tutorials and instructions on how to do it, so it's not hard to get obsessed with it (like I am right now ;) ).

The only two things you have to be careful are how to change color (that's the easy one) and how to do it without getting all your yarn balls twisted and tangled (that's the less easy one). The first row of cats (bottom) was done before I new the proper non-twisting technique and it is much less precise than the following ones. But watching few videos after trying it out really made the difference and now this fascinating technique is my go-to for cute crochet objects: I see more of these as Xmas presents for 2015 ;)

So how about you? Have you being crochet this month? Why don't you enter your projects in the link party below?

For this month in order to be eligible for prizes, you are asked to make a square crochet project using the pattern for the basic square in the tutorial, with any decoration design you like!

In the tutorial, we also listed some other objects (bags, pouches, etc): you can also enter any of those as long as you add the edging and/or the surface decoration using the technique described by Pren for the dishcloth.

You can still link up blocks and projects from the Foundation Paper Piecing and Quilting tutorials!!

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The Voting for the Marsala Quilt Challenge is open over @ onthewindyside! You should go there and check all those entries!! Mine is in the Mini (number 8), just in case you want to give it some love ;)

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The whole project started as the "Tea Towel Challenge" (@ sophie junction).
So I got the tea towel and I used it as the center piece. Then I reproduced the motif in the main design as paper piecing border around it.
And then the amazing Jen started her BOM (Paper Piecing Vintage). So I decided to merge the two and not following any of their rules I made my own ;)
So I didn't follow Sophie's deadline, nor Jen layout, but I really love how it turned out!!

Few notes on the finishing touches:

I was super afraid of quilting it. Because I decided to do something I never do: use all-over designs not connected to the piecing. I was afraid that my bad skills in quilting and in picking desings would have ruined the piecing. But overcoming my fears I did it anyway and I realized that even if I used cream thread, it doesn't stand out against the blue! It just give a different texture! So fear of all-over designs is over!! :)

I tried a nice and simple motif shared by Susan a few weeks ago. I used a simplified version and tried it with two different scales. I used my walking foot to quilt this and I really like how it's soft and subtle, but interesting. This is definitely something I am going to use again!

Confident about the previous design, I wanted to try a more complex one in free motion. So I picked Deco Leaves by Leah Day. I hated the entire process! The stitching was super hard, frustrating, nothing was working, I kept getting stuck because of bulky seams, the stitches were super inconsistent, I broke one needle, I hated quilting, I hated my life, I hated everything while I was doing that :) ok, once I stop stitching this section, I went back to my normal status of loving my life and sewing ;) but I guess you understand the spirit. Despite the messiness of the process and my opinion on the design (too dense for my taste), it didn't turn out too bad after washing... I can barely see it, so this is just a lesson for me: never ever ever ever again try to FMQ on a pieced block :) if all the seams are open or on a blank piece of fabric, maybe...

Because I didn't want to repeat the same design that gave me so much trouble, I started doing some tangles borders on my notepad and came up with this simple design which I absolutely love! I stitched it with my walking foot, so a lot of turning, but not too bad since the design is pretty small and I didn't need to turn the whole quilt most of the time. This is another design that I will definitely use again!!

I absolutely love the 2 colors (piped) binding but I struggled joining the sections at the end. Again Susan came to the rescue with a great tutorial! Absolutely perfect joining, if I didn't know where it is I wouldn't even being able to tell (hint: it's in one of the picture, but not in this one)!! ;)

Oh, and because Susan really seams to be perfectly in line with what I need and what I like, she is starting a great Quilt Along! The design is very beautiful, however I think I will need to change the colors, because despite white being a wonderful background for that design, it doesn't seem to be appropriate for a quilt that I may want to drag around for picnics or on the beach ;) but we'll see!

Click the button for more information!!

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And speaking about the Finish along... I also have FINISH #2!! (wow, 2 finishes in one week!!)

So I had these blocks for quite a while and I made them with the idea of covering my previous sewing machine (which didn't have a hard cover). But now the new sewing machine has a hard cover that I really like, except that is white and plain! So I decided to use those blocks to make a snugly cover for the cover :)
Since this is a little smaller than the original cover, the blocks are not perfectly centered, but I really like the way it turned out anyway! I did some straight line quilting to mimic the lines on a notepad (since the fabric is graph paper with equations and geometric formulae) :)
It was a very quick project, and it has been sitting there for months! Thanks to the incentive of the Finish Along I actually finished it!!

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Finally, I made the second block for the D wall hanging for my dad: second part of the fence!

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Twenty two days ago Pren shared a simple but fun tutorial for a dishcloth to stretch your crocheting skills.
You can find the tutorial on the SYS2015 page!

Until now, there is not a single project added in the link party below from this tutorial

:( :( :(

Come on friends!! This month is a super easy and quick project!

:) :) :)

For this month in order to be eligible for prizes, you are asked to make a square crochet project using the pattern for the basic square in the tutorial, with any decoration design you like!

In the tutorial, we also listed some other objects (bags, pouches, etc): you can also enter any of those as long as you add the edging and/or the surface decoration using the technique described by Pren for the dishcloth.

You can still link up blocks and projects from the Foundation Paper Piecing and Quilting tutorials!!

This is my little Marsala wall hanging. If you want to read more about it, just check out the previous post!
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Last week Mary, my partner for the Spring Mug Rug Swap received the package so now I can share it with you!

Mary told me she likes tea, patriotic themed projects and the ocean, so I tried to include all these elements in the little mug rug! This was my first time doing prairie points and of course I had to make my life difficult by choosing to make them super tiny (they finish probably less than 3/4 inches)! ;) I think they turned out pretty cute: and they are scrappy and irregular like the waves of the ocean!

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Another super secret project I made earlier this month was for the wonderful Jennifer (Sewhooked).
This is what I made for her.

Stained glass wall hanging (18''x23'')

The wall hanging was designed to reproduce a stained glass piece made by her mother-in-law (who passed away earlier this year).
Jennifer shared more pictures of both works (and very kind words) in her post on Sewhooked

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Another great news is that the package of row/round counters that I ordered from the amazing Terry (Snowie44) arrived!! And it didn't just have the 5 wonderful row/round counters that I ordered, but she was so kind to add some extra cute stitch markers for me and a little toy for my sewing helper!! :)

As you can see below, Pumpkin first read the little note Terry included and then she went completely nuts playing with Fred (the Fish).

Now I am looking forward to start another crochet/knitting project to use those great little tools!!
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Finally, the little stitching that I can share, is the first block for a wall hanging for my dad: he requested a decorative piece for our house in the mountains, so I will use many "nature" inspired fabric and patterns. This is the first block

Friday, April 17, 2015

I have a tradition of making these "color of the year" wall hanging to decorate my sewing space.

My general layout is a center block representing the "object" of the color, and a scrappy border containing different colors similar to the color of the year and with shapes somehow connected to the main theme.

So this year, the choice of the border was pretty easy: with a theme like Marsala, isn't the "Drunkard's Path" (a design makes one think of a drunkards staggering walk) just the perfect border? ;)

Some close-up pics to see the quilting (I quilted some grapes and grape leaves)

And the fabric on the back is also pretty cool I think :)

And yes, if you look close to the picture of the front you may have noticed some fabric bleeding :( :( oh, well... I will try to fix it probably, one day... but in the meantime, we can pretend it's the artistic touch of Marsala wine stains ;)

Follow THIS LINK TO SEE ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS... and in 7 days the voting will open and I will ask you to vote for me ;) (or a different one... there are amazing quilts/projects over there... but if you vote mine I would be very very happy ;) )

As a last note, these are my wall hangings for 2013 and 2014... just for fun!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

We are three weeks in, for our crochet month!
You can find the tutorial that the wonderful Pren shared on the SYS2015 page!

I decided that one project was not enough so I made another one! :)

But this time I turned the square into a little pouch to keep all my crochet hook warm and cozy!

I made the square following the pattern, then I fold it in thirds, closed the sides with the first round of border with the different yarn and decorated one side with the cute border in the pattern! Then I added three fancy snaps because why not! :)

And what are YOU making? Let's get the party started!!

Remember that in this link party only projects belonging to the SYS2015 series should be added

(I reserve the right to delete any non compliant link).

This link party will be open all year long and you can add as many finished projects as you want!

The same link party will be shown on the SYS2015 page.

Each link will give you a chance to win one of the monthly prizes.

For this month in order to be eligible for prizes, you are asked to make a square crochet project using the pattern for the basic square in the tutorial, with any decoration design you like!

In the tutorial, we also listed some other objects (bags, pouches, etc): you can also enter any of those as long as you add the edging and/or the surface decoration using the technique described by Pren for the dishcloth.

You can still link up blocks and projects from the Foundation Paper Piecing and Quilting tutorials!!

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When several weeks ago I saw Adrianne (On the Windy Side) finished projects linkup for the first time it was too late enter :) but for the second quarter I am right on time and you all know how I love making lists and try to accomplish as much as possible from them!

I wanted to put in the list projects at all stages (almost completed and just barely started). Probably I won't complete number 4 but ehi, I want to use this opportunity as incentive to push it as far as I can before July :)
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Since I wanted to share some actual sewing with you this week, I made an easy block for my B quilt (a quilt for my brother) :) he brewed his own beer once... so I thought this block was perfect for him. ;)

Thursday, April 9, 2015

And as usual the original version by Jane on the left, and my reinterpretation on the right.

There are some parts I like, some others I kind of messed up... I hope to learn more motifs to fill the background space because I am not so inspired in that part usually and I don't like to leave them empty but I never know what to draw in those big spaces.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Last week Pren shared a simple but fun tutorial for a dishcloth to stretch your crocheting skills.
You can find the tutorial on the SYS2015 page!

And what are YOU making? Let's get the party started!!

Remember that in this link party only projects belonging to the SYS2015 series should be added

(I reserve the right to delete any non compliant link).

This link party will be open all year long and you can add as many finished projects as you want!

The same link party will be shown on the SYS2015 page.

Each link will give you a chance to win one of the monthly prizes.

For this month in order to be eligible for prizes, you are asked to make a square crochet project using the pattern for the basic square in the tutorial, with any decoration design you like!

In the tutorial, we also listed some other objects (bags, pouches, etc): you can also enter any of those as long as you add the edging and/or the surface decoration using the technique described by Pren for the dishcloth.

You can still link up blocks and projects from the Foundation Paper Piecing and Quilting tutorials!!